Vehicle.



No. 676,409. Patented lune l8, l90l.

P. E. BERGER. I

VEHICLE.

- (Application filed Jan. 9, 1901.) (llo Iodel.) 2 Sheets-Shae! l.

No. 676,409. Patented lune l8, l90l. P. E. BERGER.

VEHICLE.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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I UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

PAUL E. BERGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 676,409, dated, June 18,1901.

Application filed January 9, 1901. Serial No. 42,636. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL E. BERGER, a resident of the city of Chicago,State of Illivnois, have invented a new and useful Imon the surface ofthe road, and, second, to

utilize this principle of construction in a selfpropelled vehicle orautomobile.

As it is well known that the recoil of the best-known metallic vehiclesprings when suddenly put under tension and released is much greaterthan that of a pneumatic cushion or tire, it will be apparent that avehicleconstructed according to my invention will ride over unevensurfaces and obstructions in the road with less jar and movement to thebody of the vehicle than in the case-of a vehicle equipped with theordinary metallic springs.- I

- The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate one of the many embodiments of which it issusceptible.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of therunninggear. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 4 is a frontelevation.

' A represents the vehicle-body.

B B are the front wheels, and B Bthe rear wheels, each of said wheelsbeing provided with the ordinary pneumatic tire b.

G is the rear axle, on the ends of which the wheels B are journaled, andD is the front axle.

E is a reach which is forkedat its rear end, forming arms 6 e, whichhave bearings at their extremities engaging the rear axle O at pointsnear the wheels B B. The forward end of reach E extends through ahorizontal opening at the middle of the front axleD and carries nut e.The front axle D being free to turn on the reach Emay assume a dif*ferent inclination from the rear axle as the wheels of either ride overuneven surfaces or obstructions in the roadway.

' The front or steering wheels B B are mounted on the ends of the frontaxle in the manner common in automobiles. At each extremity the axle Dcarries a forked bracket f. Vertical sleeves i on the inner ends ofshort extension-axles g g engage between the arms of the brackets f f,respectively, and are adapted to turn on vertical pivot-pins h h,extending therethrough and secured at their upper and lower extremitiesin the arms of the brackets. Short rearwardly-extending arms is k on theextension-axles g are connected through links Z with the two arms m m,respectively, on a plate 71, which is adapted to turn on a verticalpivot-pin 0, taking into a fiat surface 19 on the front axle D justabove the point where the reach E passes through the same, as clearlyshown in Fig. 5. An arm p extends rearwardly from the plate it along thetop of reach E and carries at its rear extremity a toothed segment 1). Apin q engaging a slot q in a segment 19 and taking into the reach actsas a guide and stop for the movement of the arm 1). Avertically-disposed shaft r extending upwardly through the bottom ofbody A carries at its lower end a pinion r in engagement with the teethof segment 19 and at its upper extremity has a handle which may bemanipulated by the operator to turn the front wheels B B, and thus steerthe vehicle.

The body A carries at its front and rear ends shafts S S, respectivelymounted in suitable bearings .9 s and s s and carrying at theirextremities wheels 3, preferably of spherical form, as shown. Thewheelssbear, respectively, upon the pneumatic tires 1) of theroad-wheels at points approximately dia metrically opposite the pointswhere said tires bear upon the surface of the roadway, so that thestrain of supporting the vehicle-body falls upon the wheels inpractically a vertical direction. The rear shaft S is rotatably mountedon the body A, and the wheels 3 are fixed thereto.

T is a motor-such, for example, as an electric motor-supplied with powerstored in the Ice body A for driving shaft S and through the frictionalcontact of wheels 8 with the pneu matic tiies b rotating wheels B B andpropelling the vehicle.

In order to prevent longitudinal movement of bodyA with reference to therunning-gear, bars o u are pivotally connected at their rear ends torear axle O and at their forward ends to the under side of body A.

At the front of the vehicle (see Fig. 4) two flexible straps or bands a:are secured at their upper extremities to the under side of bearings s sand crossed, their lower ends being secured to brackets f f,respectively. Similarly-arranged straps y y at the rear of the vehicle,Fig. 3, are secured at their upper ends to bearings s s and at theirlower ends to sleeves z 2, respectively, fast on axle C. These two setsof straps a; or and y y, while permitting the axles to move in avertical direction and to different inclinations, prevent lateralmovement of the body A with reference to the running-gear.

As will be apparent, various modifications may be made without departingfrom theprinciple of the invention.

What I claim is 1. In a vehicle, road-wheels having resilient tires, abody or seat, and wheels mounted on said body or seat bearing on thetires of the road-wheels and entirely supporting the body. l

2. In a vehicle, road-wheels having pneumatic tires, at body or seat,and wheels mounted on said body or seat bearing on the tires oftheroad-wheels and entirely supporting e O y- A a r 3. In a four-wheeledVehicle, foiir roadwheels having resilient tires, a body, four Wheelsmounted on saidbodyand bearing respectively on the tires of theroad-wheels whereby the body is supported.

4. In a four-wheeled vehicle, four roadwheels having resilient tires, avehicle-body, laterally-extending shafts or auxiliary axles one on saidbody at each end thereof, four Wheels two mounted on each shaft andbearing on the tires of the road-wheels respectively,whereby thevehicle-body is supported.

5. In a four-wheeled vehicle, a runninggear' frame, four road-wheelsjournaled thereon, a vehicle-body, four wheels mounted on thevehicle-body and bearing on the tires of the road wheels respectively,whereby the body is supported, and connections between the body and therunning-gear frame for preventing said body from moving longitudinallyor laterally with reference to said frame.

6. In a four-wheeled vehicle, a runninggear frame comprising front andrear axles and means connecting the same, two front and two rear wheelson said axles respectively, a vehicle-body, four wheels mounted on thevehicle-body and bearing on the tires of the road-wheels respectively,whereby the body is supported, two bars for preventing longitudinalmovement of the body with reference to the running-gear pivoted at oneend to the vehic le body and at the other end to one of the axles, andcrossed straps or hands connecting the running-gear with the body atfront and rear for preventing lateral move ment of the body withreference to the runhing-gear. V v

'7. In a self-propelled vehicle, road-wheels having resilient tires, abody or sea-t, wheels mounted on said body or seat bearing on the tiresof the road-wheels and entirely supporting-the body, and a motor forrotating one of said wheels to impart movement to the correspondingroad-wheel and thus propel the vehicle.

8. In a self-propelled vehicle four roadwheels having resilient tires, avehicle-body, four wheels mounted on the body and bearing the tiresrespectively, whereby the body is supported, a motor for driving two ofsaid wheels to impart rotary movement totwo of the road-wheels to propelthe vehicle, and means whereby the operator may turn two of theroad-wheels to guide the vehicle. Y

. 9. In a self-propelled fourwvheeIedVehicle, a running-gear comprisingfront and rear axles, front and rear wheels on saidaxles respectivelyand a reach connecting the front and rear axles but permitting them toassume difie'rent inclinations, a vehiclebody, two laterally-extendingshafts on said body, wheels on said shafts bearing on the road-wheelsrespectively, whereby the body is supported, a motor for rotating thewheels which bear against the rear road-wheels thereby driving thelatter to propel the vehicle, and means whereby the operator may to rnthe front roadwheels to guide the vehicle.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses. 1 7 PAUL E. BERGER.

Witnesses:

E. O. LINDSEY, RALPH CREws.

